Game apparatus



N0. 613,658. Patented Nov. '8, I898.

w.' J. BOURKE. GAME APPARATUS.

(Applicatiop filed July 18, 1896. Refiewed Jan. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 613,658. Patented Nov. 8, I898. W. J. BOURKE.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 18, 1896. Renewed Jan. 14, 1898.) (No Model.)

@wfe i B R is Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. BOURKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,658, dated November 8, 1898. Application filed July 18, 1896. Renewed January 14:, 1898. Serial No. 666,737. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BOURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in-the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as a being used to determine the plays, which shall closely resemble our national game as actually played in the field, the same being a counterpart of a professional game,one wherein the same terms and the same rules used as those adopted by the National Base-Ball Association of 1895, and which will hold the interest of the players and the spectators until the finish; and to these ends the novelty consists in the combination, construction, and

- arrangement of the devices, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 in the drawings represents a perspective view of a game-board, illustrating my invention; and Fig. 2 represents the apparatus employed in carrying out the same.

A designates the game-board, representing a ball-field, and is an exact copy of a professional ball-ground in every particular. The bases are four in number. The first base (indicated by the numeral 1) is colored red; the second base 2 by the color orange, the third base 3 byblue, and the home base 4 by white. The foul-lines 21 are the white lines drawn in a straight line from the outer corner of home base along the outer edge of the first and third bases and to the boundaries of the ground.

P0sitt0n-le'nes.-The pitchers lines 22 are the white square in the center of diamond, midway between the first, second, third, and home bases.

The catchers lines 23 are the lines drawn from the outer corner of home base, in continuation of the foul-lines, straight to the limits of the ground back of the home base.

The captains or coachers lines 24 are the lines running parallel with and fifteen feet from the foul-lines, commencing seventy-five feet distant from the catchers lines and running thence to the limit of the grounds.

The players lines 25 are the lines drawn from the catchers lines to the limits of the ground, fifty feet distant from and parallel with the foul-lines.

The batsmans lines are the white squares 5 5 on the right and left of home base.

The dice-The dice are five in number namely, the umpire-die 7, the batsmans die 8, the first-base die 9, the second-base die 10, and the third-base die 11-each of which corresponds in color with the bases at which they are used to indicate the play or action of the player while thereat.

The white die Sis the batsmans die, which is always used by him while at bat to indicate what play he makes while at bat. This die has fourteen sides, which indicate the fol lowing plays: Ball, marked B., of which there are three on this die, indicates that the pitcher has not delivered the ball in proper position to the batsman -that is, it has not passed over the home base below the batsmans shoulder or above his knee. Strike, marked S. of which there are three on this die, indicates that the pitcher has delivered a ball in proper position to the batsman, which he has struck at and missed or failed to hit at. Foul, marked F. of which there are two on this die, indicates that the pitcher has delivered a ball to the batsman, which he has batted and which has fallen behind the foul lines or on foulground. One-base hit, marked 1, of which there are two on this die, indicates that the batsman has batted a ball delivered by the pitcher that would entitle him to one base, (first base,) providing it was not legally caught by one of the fielders or that the ball thus batted did not reach the said base (first) before the runner reached there. Two-base hit, marked 2, of which there is one on this die, indicates that the batsman has batted a ball delivered him by the pitcher that would entitle him to two bases, (first and second bases,) providing it was not legally caught by one of the fielders,

or that the ball thus batted did not reach second base before the runner arrived there, or that said runner was not touched by said ball held by one of the fielders. Three-base hit, marked 3, of which there is one on this die, indicates that the batsman has batted a ball delivered him by the pitcher that would entitle him to three bases, (first, second, and third bases,) providing it was not legally caught by one of the fielders, or that the ball thus batted did not reach third base before the runner arrived there, or that said runner was not touched by said ball held by one of the fielders. Home run, marked H. R, of which there is one on this die, indicates that the batsman has batted a ball deliveredhim by the pitcher that would entitle him to run all the basesthat is, first, second, third, and home basesproviding it was not legally caught by one of the fielders, or that the ball thus batted did not reach the home base before the runner arrived there, or that the said runner was not touched by the said ball held by one of the fielders before touching the said home base. Take base, marked T. 13., of which there is one on this die,

indicates that the batsman has been hit by the ball delivered by the pitcher or that the pitcher has made an illegal delivery, either of which will entitle the batsman to take first base unless the umpire decides to the contrary by the term Out.

The umpire-die '7 is the green die, which speaks and acts for the umpire. This die has six sides-one side marked C. out, signifying caught out; one side marked P.

out, signifying put out; one side marked T. out, signifying thrown out, and three sides marked with the word Safe. This die is used to judge all plays made by the batsman while at bat and to decide and state whether he is out or not, from which there is no appeal; also, to decide when called on p to terminate a play between a runner and baseman, which decision is final. The letters C., R, and T., prefixed to the word out on the umpire-die, only imply on three strikes, one, two, and three base hits,

and home runs, while the word Out implies on all plays of the batsman, with such exceptions as defined in Rule 12. There are exceptions where the umpire is silent and has no saynamely, in strikes one and two and in balls one, two, three, and four. These are the only exceptions where the umpire is silent.

First-base die 9 is the red die and corresponds in color with base at which it is used. This die has six sides, with the words Base stolen on two sides, Out steal on two sides, Caught napping on one side, and Out of base-line on one side. Base stolen, marked B. 8., signifies that the runner has stolen from first to second base successfully. Out steal, marked 0. 8., signifies that the runner has been put out stealing from first to second base. Caught napping,

marked C. N., signifies that an attempt has been made while the runner is leading off first base to put him out, and if first baseman is covering his base a decision from the umpire can be called for, which decision will be final; but if the first baseman is not covering his base the runner is safe and merely holds his base unless the batsman makes a play that gives him bases. Out of baseline, marked 0. B. L., signifies that the runner while stealing from first to second base has run out of the base-line either to escape being touched by fielder or to avoid interference with fielder from fielding ball, where a decision from the umpire may be called for and whose decision in all cases shall be final, providing the batsman does not make a three-base hit or a home run, which shall advance the runner.

Second-base die 10 is the orange die, and corresponds in color to the base at which it is used. This die has six sides, with the words Base stolen on two sides, Out steal, on two sides, Caught napping on one side, and Stay base on one side. The words Base stolen, Out steal, and Caught napping on orange die 10 are implied as in paragraphs above, with the exception that these imply from second to third base. Stay base, of which there is one on this die, signifies that the runner has been unable to steal a base, and is therefore forced to hold second base unless the batsman gives him bases by a hit he has made.

Third-base die 11 is the blue die and corresponds in color with the base at which it is used. This die has six sides, with the words Out steal on two sides, Base stolen on two sides, Caught napping on one side, and Stay base on one side, and implies same as second-base die, with the exception that these imply from third to home bases.

The men or players of each nine are fifteen in n umber-namely, one pitcher, one catcher, three basemen, one short-stop, three fielders, one batsman, and five runners, making a total of thirty players, including umpire thirtyone,who is dressed in civilian dress and wears a green skull-cap. The umpire 12 is the man who stands in an inclining position with one hand on knee. The catcher 13 is the man in a stooped position with both hands on knees. The pitcher 14 is the man standing in straight position and holding the ball with both hands in front of breast. The batsman 15 is the man standing with the bat in his hands ready to strike. The basemen 16 and short-stop 17 are the men standing in a straight position with both hands resting on hips, and each of these men is marked in the same color as the base they guard. The fielders are the men in the same position as the basemen with white-ground base. The runners are the men in running position, and each man is marked in his batting order on the base of same.

Positions-The umpire stands in the center of white square back of the catcher and The basemen stand in their respective colored circles (which correspond with the bases they guard) at the commencement of the game and facing the batsman. The shortstop stands in the garnet circle at the right of second base and faces the batsman at the commencement of. the game. The fielders stand in the white circles at the foot of board and facing the batsman. The runners (five in number) stand in their respective positions on the players benches, covering the spaces which correspond with the letter on the ground base of runners, which'indicate their batting order. Home players take the left or red bench and visiting players the right or yellow bench.

As soon as the game is called runner A takes his position to the left of the batsman as if he were running for the batsman, and

represents him after he has made his play,

and should the batsman be scored out his runner A goes back to his former position in the players bench, and the next runner B follows suit, and so on until the end of the first inning.

The runners must run bases in the order of their respective-letters as they appear on the score-card, and after the first inning the first runner in each inning shall be the runner whose letter follows that of the last runner who has completed his time at the bat in the preceding inning.

Therunners or players benches are the colored spaces at the right and left sides of the board, which five squares are marked out and lettered to correspond with the runners and on which each must take his proper position. They indicate that the man occupying the first square is the first and sixth man to bat, that the man occupying the second square is'the second and seventh man to bat, that the man occupying the third square is the third and eighth man to bat, that the man occupying the fourth square is the fourth and ninth man to bat, and the man occupying the fifth square is the fifth man to bat.

The counters 19 20 on the right and left of the board are used to keep track of balls and strikes of each batter while at the bat and to record the number of balls and strikes and avoid dissensions.

Game.-Every game shall consist of nine (9) innings to each contesting nine unless otherwise arranged by both parties on the commencement of the game.

Tie game.--If the game be a tie at the end of nine innings or at the end of the agreed number of innings to each side, the play shall continue until one side shall have scored one or more runs more than the other side in an equal number of innings or until the last nine at bat shall have scored one more run than the first nine at bat.

Choice of innings.The choice of innings shall be determined by each side tossing the batsmans dice until one side has, turned a larger throw than the other, which dice range as follows: home run, three-base hit, two-base hit, one-base hit, take base, ball, foul, strike.

Scoring of mms.0ne run shall be scored every time a runner has legally touched the three bases and the home base before three.

men have been put out; but if the third man be forced out or put out before reaching first base a run shall not be scored.

The batsman is out if he fails to take his position at bat in his order of batting unless the error be discovered. and the proper batsman takes his position before a fair hit has been made, and in case balls or strikes be counted in the time he is at bat they revert to the proper batsman, providing this rule shall not take effect unless the out is declared before the ball is delivered to the succeeding batsman; if his die says Foul, if his die says Three strikes, if his die says Onebase hit, if his die says Two-base hit, if his die says Three-base hit, if his die says Home run, and the umpire says Out.

When the batsman becomes a runner: after Four balls have been called, after Take base has been called, after Three strikes have been called, after One-base hit has been called, after Two-base hit has been called, after Three-base hit has been called, after Home run has been called, and the umpire says Safe.

Entitled 250 bases.--The batsman and baserunners shall be entitled to take the base without being put out, as in the following cases: if while batsman the umpire calls Four balls; if while batsman Take base is called and the umpire says Safe; if a batsman is awarded a base on four balls or Take base and the base-runner is thereby forced to vacate the base held by him; if a batsman makes a one, two, or three base hit ora home run, a base-runner in holding a base may advance the same number of bases as the batsman is allowed, except where there Base-runners must hold bases in the follow.

ing cases: when their die reads Stay base; after a foul has been called; when the um pire-die reads C. out, or caught out.

Base-runners are out, first, when their die reads Out steal, second, when their die reads Caught napping and the umpire on decision says Out and the baseman is cov ering base; third, when the die reads Out of base-line and the umpire on decision says Out; fourth, when a base-runner takes a preceding base after the umpire has called C. out. For the play of the batsman, however, the baseman guarding the base which he left must cover same and call him out before the die is thrown for the next delivery of the ball by the pitcher.

The baseman must move every time the die is thrown for the batsman, and one of the three basemen or the short-stop must move in position from circle to base or base to circle belonging to his base, and only one baseman can move at a time.

Each baseman must confine himself to his proper color, with the exception of the shortstop, who is allowed to move from his garnet circle to second base and return.

No decision can be called for on a Caught napping unless the baseman is covering his base before the die is thrown.

'ThI'O'lUIJ'IZQ of cZt'ce.-In throwing the dice for this game the dice must be placed in the dice-box 20 provided for the game and must be Well shaken and all turned out together.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A game apparatus consisting of a gameboard provided with lines, squares, and circles in contrasting colors representing the players positions, correspondingly-colored dice to govern the base-plays and batsmans play, and an umpires die showing the decisions of the umpire, the latter deciding the termination of the plays indicated by the former, and a series of miniature figures to represent the opposing teams, substantially as set forth.

2. A game apparatus consisting of a gameboard provided with lines, squares, and circles in contrasting colors representing the players positions, correspondingly-col0red dice to govern the base-plays and batsmans play, and an umpires die showing the decisions of the umpire, the latter deciding the termination of the plays indicated by the former, a series of miniature figures to represent the opposing teams, and pivoted indicators adapted to move over scales denoting balls and strikes, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM J. BOURKE.

W'itnesses:

J. H. DEVINE, M. H. HEREL-EY. 

